Soldiers of the 144 Battalion, stationed at Ariaria junction, along the Enugu–Port Harcourt expressway, yesterday, allegedly killed 16 gunmen who engaged them in a fierce gun battle.
The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday night at Ariaria market junction in Aba the state’s commercial capital.
Heritage Times gathered that it was a joint operation of the Nigerian Army and police which led to the death of about 16 gunmen who were operatives of the Eastern Security Network, ESN.
The operation was in response to a series of attacks against security personnel in the South-East.
Not less than 20 security operatives have been killed in the region by unknown gunmen in the last three months.
Police stations are also not left out in the assault as four of them were razed since January.
The gunmen, said to be numbering about 50, engaged the soldiers at their checkpoint at the Ariaria junction.
Heritage Times gathered that before the gunmen arrived the area; the soldiers had gathered intelligence and laid in wait for them.
It resulted to a heavy gun battle between the militia and a combined team of police tactical units including the RRS and the CTU as well as the military.
“Heavy shooting last night at Ariaria market junction, Aba between RRS that is policemen, CTU, military and the so called ESN and by the grace of God Almighty, they gunned 16 of them down,” a police source boastfully told newmen.
The ESN is a regional security force and a paramilitary wing of the separatist group, indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The security outfit was formed to combat armed Fulani herdsmen terrorising communities in the region.
Over the years, the military had had several clash with IPOB members and their self acclaimed leader, Nnamdi Kanu which resulted in the deaths of many.
